Convertible table



Oct. 9, 1934. LOWENBERG 1,976,031

CONVERTIBLE TABLE Filed May 12, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Mi/lon A .Zow'efleg BY ATTORN EY 1934. M. A. LOWENBERG 1,976,031

CONVERTIBLE TABLE Filed May J .2. 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR MY/ufl A [owe/Meg 5 5 ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 9, 1934 r 1,976,031 CONVERTIBLE TABLE Milton A. Lowenberg, Hewlett, N. Y.

Application May 12, 1931, Serial No. 536,770

10 Claims.

The present invention relates to convertible tables and is more particularly directed toward table construction wherein the same parts are employed in assembling different forms of tables.

'The table constructions contemplated by the present invention are intended for use in the home where'the spaceavailable is limited, making it desirable to haveavailable a collapsible table suitable for use either as a card table or as a bedside table.

The present invention accordingly contemplates a table top and suitable supports whereby one may form either a bedside table, preferably adjustable in height, or a card table, or the like.

In the constructions contemplated by the present invention, the parts are so designed that either assemblage may be easily made by anyone without the use of tools and without sacrificing inherent stability and rigidity.

The accompanying drawings show, for purposes of illustrating the present invention, two forms in which the invention may be embodied, it being understood that the drawings are illustrative of the invention rather than limiting the same. I

In these drawings:

Figures 1 and 1a are perspective views showing one form of construction, the parts being arranged in Figure 1 as a card table, or the like,

so and in Figure 1a as a bed table;

figure 2 is a sectional view at an enlarged scale through a corner;

Figures 3 and 3a are perspective views looking at the table top from underneath, Figure 3 illustrating the arrangement of table top with supporting legs for a card table and Figure 3a illustrating the arrangement of parts for forming a bed table;

Figure 4 is an elevational view illustrating the compact assemblage of table top and folded legs,

using the form shown in the preceding figures;

Figure 5 is a perspective view showing a bedside table employing a slightly modified form of support;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a section on the line 7-7 of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a perspective view illustrating the supporting members of Figure 5 folded; and

Figure 9 is a section on the line 9-9 of Figure 6.

In Figures 1 and 1a the table top is indicated at 10. It is preferably square in shape, covered with suitable covering material C and provided with side strips indicated at 11. The under portion of the table top is indicated in Figures 3 and 3a. It has four corner blocks 12, each provided with vertical holes 13 extending to metal inserts 14 secured to it by screws or other means, as indicated at 14c. One of the side frames or strips of the table is provided with horizontal holes or sockets 15-15, arranged in pairs as indicated. These holes extend through the adjacent blocks 12, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The under surface of the table also carries strips 16-16 having 635 grooves 17-17 in line with the holes 15-15. The blocks 12 at the other side of the table are provided with holes similar to those just described, and the adjacent side strip frame member mayor may not be provided with holes such as the holes 15-15.

The supports for holding up this form of table top are U-shaped members 20 and 21, substantially identical. They are made of hollow tubing, asin'dicated in the drawings, and of such size 78 that the ends 22 of the U-shaped members may be inserted into the sockets 13 or holes 15, as indicated in Figures 3 and 3a. The two U-shaped tubes have straight sides connected to the bottom portions by relatively sharp bends. The bottom of member 20 is straight and of member 21 slightly bent, as indicated in Figure 4, to permit the members to cross over at the center where they are pivotally connected by a pin 23, as there indicated.

When the parts are to be assembled asa card table, as shown in Figure 1, the four ends 22 of the U-shaped members are inserted into the four sockets 13 and locked in place by clips 25 which enter notches 26 in the supports. The card table 00 thus formed is one which is very rigid, for the diagonal arrangement of thesupports tends to stiffen the entire construction. The tubing crosses at the center underneath the table and, hence, it does not interfere with ones feet while seated at the table.

When the parts are to be assembled as a bedside table, the sides'of the U-shaped metal supports are passed through two of the holes 15, as indicated in Figures 1a and 3a. The side portions of set of holes 15 to be employed. When the parts are not in use they may be folded into a very compact package such as indicated in Figure 4.

In the form of construction illustrated in Figures 5 to 9 inclusive, substantially the same results are obtained by using a slightly modified Each is made out of two pieces, 31 and 32, of hollow tubing bent into a right angled relation, as indicated. The lower members 31 are of larger diameter than the upper members 32. The upper members, as shown in these figures, have horizontal table top supporting portions 33 and vertical portions 34, which are slidably received in the vertical portions of the lower members 31. The horizontal portions of these lower members form feet. The vertical portions 34 of the upper members have a plurality of regularly spaced holes 37, while the tubing 35 has holes 38. Clamps 39 are secured about the large diameter tubes 31, as indicated. These clamps are cross connected by straps 40 and are clamped to the tubes by thumb nuts indicated at 41. Pins 42 are adapted to pass through holes in the clamp members as well as the holes 37 and 38.

The table top 43 has side frame members 44, 45, 46 and 47, as usual. The members 44 and 46 carryspring clips 48, adapted to receive the portion 33 of the small diameter tubing, while the members and 47 carry slightly larger clips 49 to receive the large diameter tubing.

When the parts are to be assembled to form a bedside table, as indicated in Figure 5, the upper tubular members 32 are raised to the desired elevation and the pins 42 inserted in the holes, as

indicated in Figures 5 and 6. The table top may then be placed on the upper horizontal parts of the tubular supporting members by passing the clips 48 down onto the hollow tubing, as indicated in Figure 7.

When one desires to make up a card table, the tubular members are moved into the innermost position and the .pins inserted in the corresponding holes. 'The frame is then placed with the free ends of the tubes on the floor so as to form a frame composed of two inverted U-shaped members interconnected at the top by the cross braces 40. Owing to the pins being in the holes, as above described, this assemblage is very rigid and can-' not collapse on accoount of any side thrust. The table top can be placed on this inverted U-shaped frame by passing the clips 49 down onto the larger diameter portion 35 of the tubes. If one desires to avoid the use of clips of different sizes, a single sized clip of sufficient resiliency may be provided, or the table design may have smaller diameter tubular members at the bottom instead of at the top, as shown in Figures 5 and 6. Where adjustability in height of the bedside table is not required, the U-shaped members may be made of a single piece of tubing.

When the apparatus is not in use, the pins 42 may be pulled out of the holes and the parts collapsed, as indicated in Figure 8, so that the device may be stored in a restricted space.

It will, of course, be understood that the supports for the table top of the form shown in Figures 1 to 4 may be employed with a table top having securing means of the type shown in Figures 5 to 7, these securing means being secured to the table top in appropriate positions. Likewise, the table top securing means shown in Figures 1 to 4 may be employed with supports of the type shown in Figures 5 to 9.

While the invention is more particularly adapted for constructing bedside tables, card tables, and the like, it is also susceptible of employment in the manufacture of other articles of furniture, such, for example, as, collapsible dressing tables, chairs, display tables, and the like. The form shown in Figures 1 and la may readily be adapted for use as a chair by providing a chair back such as illustrated at 50 in dotted lines in Figure 1. The part designated as the table top will be the chair seat and will be made much stronger.

It is obvious that the invention may be embodied in many forms and constructions, and I wish it to be understood that the particular forms shown are but two of many forms. Various modifications and changes being possible, I do not limit myself in any way with respect thereto.

I claim:v

1. In a table construction a table top, two U- shaped supports having straight side and bottom portions connected by short sharp bends, means for securing the table top along substantially the entire length of a side portion of each of the u-shaped supports, the other side portions of the.

4. A table comprising a table top having four downwardly opening sockets arranged at the cor-' ners of a rectangle and two side openings extending substantially across the table top below the upper surface thereof, and two U-shaped supports pivoted together at their centers and crossing one another, the ends of the U-shaped supports being insertible into the sockets to form a card table, or one of the sides of each of the U-shaped supports being insertible into one of the side openings of the table top to support it above the floor as a bed table.

5. A table comprising two U-shaped supports having straight parallel sides, a table top having on the under side thereof two parallel receiving devices into which a side of each of the supports is insertible, the receiving devices being adapted to hold said sides of the U-shaped supports at widely spaced points, the other sides of the U- shaped supports being adapted to act as feet, and a cross connection between the U-shaped supports.

6. A table comprising two U-shaped supports having straight parallel sides, a table top having on the under side thereof two parallel receiving devices into which a side of each of the supports is insertible, the receiving devices being adapted to hold said sides of the U-shaped supports at widely spaced points, the other sides of the U- shaped supports being adapted to act as feet, and a cross connection between the U-shaped supports, the table top being also provided with other securing means cooperative with the upper parts of the U-shaped supports when the sides thereof are vertical for securing and supporting the table top on top of the supports.

7. In table construction, two U-shaped supports having straight sides and bottoms connected by short sharp bends, clamps about the bottoms of the U-shaped supports, diagonal straps between the clamps, disconnectible locking means for locking the said bottoms to the clamps to prevent tuming of the bottoms in the clamps, or for permitting swinging of the supports toward the U-shaped supports, diagonal straps between the clamps, removable pins extending through the,

clamps and the supports for locking the said bottoms to the clamps to prevent turning of the bottoms in the clamps, or for permitting swinging of the supports toward one another, and a table top having means for securement to either side of each U-shaped support, or to the bottoms of both U-shaped supports.

9. In table construction, two U-shaped supports each in the form of tubular members bent at right angles, one member of smaller diameter than the other and telescoping within the same so that the width of the U may be varied, the inner members being provided with regularly spaced holes, clamping members about the portions of the larger tubular members which receive the other, diagonal cross connections between the clamps, and removable pins insertible into holes in the clamps, the outer tubular mem= her and selected holes in the inner tubular members to secure the tubular members in positions adjusted for width and to secure the U-shaped members in parallel relation at such adjusted width, or for permitting swinging the supports in the clamps to collapse the supports.

10. In table construction, two U-shaped supports each in the form of tubular members bent at right angles, one member of smaller diameten than the other and telescoping within the same so that the width of the U may be varied, the inner members being provided with regularly spaced holes, clamping members about the portions of the larger tubular members which receive the other, diagonal cross connections between the clamps, removable pins insertible into holes in the clamps, the outer tubular member and selected holes in the inner tubular members to secure the tubular members in positions adjusted for width and to secure the U-shaped members in parallel relation at such adjusted width, or for permitting swinging the supports in the clamps to collapse the supports, and a table top having alternative means for securement thereto oi two of the supports so that two of the sides of the same act as feet, or so that the four sides act as legs.

MILTON A. LOWENBERG. 

